Host polymer nanostructure utilized for the
stabilization of the FLC molecules.

Due to the increasing market for high definition displays, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have become a prominent area of research in the LC field, as they hold the potential for enabling displays with higher resolution, lighter weight, and reduced thickness. Currently, nematic LCs are used extensively for LCD applications. However, these LCs have several drawbacks that limit their commercial viability for high definition displays, such as reduced viewing angles and slow switching speeds. In contrast, ferroelectric LCs (FLCs) have enhanced electro-optical properties relative to conventional nematic LCs, which makes them desirable for use in high definition displays. Despite the significant electro-optic benefits, FLCs have not yet been commercialized to any significant extent. One of the major reasons FLCs have not achieved commercial practicality is due to the mechanical susceptibility of these molecules, in which the alignment of the FLCs is often destroyed by even subtle mechanical shocks.
In our research, we intend to stabilize the FLC system by introducing a polymer network into the inter-layer spacing of the FLC to reduce inter-layer fluidity. Previous studies utilized acrylate polymer systems for the stabilization; however, the rapid, non-homogeneous molecular weight evolution of these systems rendered the polymer insoluble in the FLC, and polymer phase separation occurred. These acrylate polymer systems were polymerized via a chain-growth mechanism, where high molecular weight molecules are formed even at very low conversions. In our work, we have completely changed the polymerization mechanism in an attempt to avoid polymer phase separation. This result is accomplished by utilizing a thiol-ene system, which polymerizes via a step-growth mechanism. In this more homogeneous growth mechanism, large molecules are not formed until high functional group conversion of the monomer, allowing the polymer to remain soluble in the inter-layer spacing of the LC. By adding a functionalized liquid crystal to our thiol-ene system, we can form a three-dimensional polymer matrix, in which the FLC molecules will be relegated to domains. These FLC domains will greatly reduce the mechanical susceptibility by reducing the inter-layer fluidity of the FLC molecules.